Reflections on Epic’s UGM 2024:

Innovations, Insights, and Ivory Room Nights

Epic's UGM conference just wrapped up, and it was a whirlwind of innovation, camaraderie, and, yes, a few late nights at the Ivory Room piano bar. But before we get into the fun stuff, let’s talk about the exciting new developments that were the real stars of the show.

Physician-Friendly Workflows: More Than Just Buzzwords

Epic continues refining its tools to make life easier for those caring for our patients. As an example, they continue to improve its integrated secure messaging system. I remember when it was a rudimentary tool that, in my opinion, was emblematic of a “minimum viable product.” Now it can stand toe-to-toe with the best external vendors. One interesting feature is the ability to order directly from test results or send messages straight from radiology reports. Secure messaging with patients and their families has also been upgraded—now, you can include pictures and filter messages based on past utilization, much like Gmail's priority inbox. This tight integration with the rest of the suite of Epic tools is what continues to make Epic the industry leader.

Another cool addition is the ability to manually connect “like” diagnoses—think congestive heart failure (CHF) and renal failure—and document them together. Physicians have been requesting this for the 12 years I have been attending the conference. This isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about reducing the mental load on physicians by turning a complex checklist into a dynamic, smart tool that does the heavy lifting.

Cosmos: The Power of Collective Experience

Cosmos was a hot topic at the conference, and for good reason. The "Lookalikes" feature allows providers to connect with others who have managed similar patients. Epic shared a compelling story about a physician who struggled to treat a patient with persistent nausea until they discovered a colleague had used intragastric Botox with great success. This kind of peer-to-peer support, powered by a vast database, could revolutionize how we approach tricky cases.

The AI Revolution: More Than Just Hype

AI was everywhere at UGM, and it’s clear that Epic is all in. Once dominated by Nuance DAX, ambient documentation has become a crowded field with multiple vendors offering solutions. Epic is leveraging this technology not just for note-taking but also for ambient ordering, which lets providers stay focused on the patient while the system takes care of the administrative burden.

One of the more high-profile AI projects is In-Basket responses driven by AI. I participated in a workshop led by Yaa Kumah Crystal from Vanderbilt. We took on different personas, prompting a response to a humorous fictitious In-Basket message. Interestingly, all the different prompts yielded similar results unless the prompt was asked to emulate Dr. House or be brief. The other responses were also viewed as excessively long. Perhaps this is why most organizations are struggling to get above a rate of 20% acceptance of AI-generated responses.

Chart summarization is another game-changer, turning the laborious task of sifting through multiple notes into an instantaneous process. This doesn’t just save time; it helps prevent critical information from slipping through the cracks.

Real-World Success Stories: From Kansas City to the Compass Rose

There were so many presentations at UGM that it was impossible to catch them all, but a few stood out. Saint Luke’s in Kansas City, for instance, implemented unified communications using Epic’s embedded messaging. Again, it’s a classic example of why Epic continues to dominate: their tools might not have all the flashy features of third-party competitors, but they fulfill 90% of user needs at a fraction of the cost, with seamless integration.

Then there’s Compass Rose, an Epic module that connects medical teams with community and social support services. Imagine a newly diagnosed diabetic who not only needs to see a dietician but also struggles to access healthy food. Compass Rose makes it easier for her care team to link her with the right community resources. The standing-room-only crowd at this presentation was a clear sign that true population health is finally gaining traction.

Judy’s Nuggets: Culture, Cosmos, and Community

No UGM would be complete without Judy Faulkner’s executive address. She reaffirmed that Epic will never go public or acquire another software company, emphasizing, "Why be owned when the owner’s primary goal is return on investment?" It’s a reminder that Epic’s culture is unique—so unique, in fact, that they don’t even work with budgets. Judy’s philosophy? "If you need it, buy it. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it."

Judy also touched on Epic’s Garden Plot program, which is helping smaller organizations access Epic’s tools in a more affordable, scalable way. For those of us who work with underserved populations, tools like CareEverywhere and Cosmos are invaluable, helping keep vulnerable patients connected to the larger healthcare system.

Speaking of Cosmos, Epic’s database now holds data on 270 million patients and is a powerful tool for research. Even community physicians with no academic background are using it to curate data for publication. The democratization of knowledge discovery is real, and Cosmos is leading the charge.

The Real Magic: Connections and Collisions

Of course, the true magic of UGM is in the connections we make—the old friends we catch up with, the new ones we meet, and the serendipitous collisions that spark new ideas. And let’s not forget the tradition of a night at the Ivory Room piano bar. It might not have advanced our use of Epic, but it sure did bond us together in purpose…and song.

In short, UGM 2024 was a blend of cutting-edge technology, insightful discussions, and a reaffirmation of Epic’s unique culture. Whether you were there for the AI updates, the Cosmos deep dives, or just the chance to sing along with colleagues, it was a week to remember.